Car-coupling



W. H. CASTLE.

GAR GOUPLING.

No. 280,449. Patented July 3. 1883.

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GAR GOUPLING. No. 280,449. PatentedJuly 3, 1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Enron..

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,449, dated July 3, 1883.

Application filed April 21, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. GAsrLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ashtabula, in the county of Ashtabula and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car Couplings; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates t0 car-couplings; and the novelty consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, asfwill be more fully hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The prime object ofthe invention is to provide a car-coupling which shall be efficient in service, and at the same time cheap of manufacture, simple in operation, and not liable to get out of order; and to these ends the invention' consists, essentially, in the mechanisms fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is an end view of a car with my invention attached. Fig. 2 is a detail view of one of my improved draw-heads broken. Fig. 3 is a detail section of one of the stirrups which support the draw-head; Fig. 4, a detail section of the locking parts; and Fig. 5 is a section of a detail, showing the manner and means for holding the draw-heads against their gravity 5 Fig. 6, a section of the stirrup.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, A designates the body of an ordinary freight-car, and B one of its longitudinal timbers, or a plate rigidly secured upon itsbottom. Securedto this partBisaframe, C,having a vertical perforated head, c, through the perforation in which operates loosely a bar, C, having an eye in one end, in which is pivoted the draw-head F, and an annular flange, c', between which and the head c operates the stout spring D, which cushions the concussion arising from the cars coming together in coupling with the ordinary link-coupler, and having also an annular flange, c2, between which and the head c upon the other side operates the spring D, which cushions the jerk or pull of the car after the coupling has been accomplished.

The draw-head F is formed, essentLlly, of two plates arranged one above the other, each formed in one piece with a solid head, said head having the ordinary aperture to receive the coupling-link x. The draw-head is suspended from the bottom and end of the car by means of stirrups G and chains g', the drawhead bearing upon friction-rollers y, j ournaled in the stirrups. Each draw-head has formed upon one or both of its sides an engaging-hook, H, and the hook of each is adapted to engage the solid head of the other between the upper and lower plates. By this means the hook ofY `e'ach draw-head has a vertical play equal to the whole distance between the upper and lower 7o plates of the draw-head less the thickness of the hook, and the strain is transferred from the hook to the solid part of the head, and when thus engaged the hooks are prevented from jumping outor uncoupling vertically by means of the upper and lower plates of thel draw-head. By means of a chain, I, secured at one end to the draw-head and at the other to a double-crank lever, I', journaled vertically in the end of the car, the draw-head may be oscillated to unoouple when desired, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. The journal or pivot J is at such distance from the face of the end of the car thatwhen the chain-crank vhas been turned sufficient to carry the plane ofthe chain I beyond the pivot the gravity ofthe draw-h ead will force said crank against the car, and thus hold the said draw-head locked until, by the manipulation of the lever I', the chain is again thrown outwardly past the pivot, when the 9o gravity of the draw-head will again throw it out into its full operative position.

What I consider to be elements of importance in this invention are the suspended oscillating draw-head, the means for locking it out of operation by its gravity, the means for suspending it, and the constructionof the head and hook.

Modifications in details of construction may be made without departing from the principle 10o or saeriiicing the advantages of the invention, the essential features oi' which havebeen 'fully indicated.

My construction holds the link in position, preventing `its swinging when coming in coniaet with link-couplers.

Then my coupler is on both ears, only the back spring is required, the draw-heads passing by and the bumpers receiving the shock.

It is obvious iliat the coupler ean be raised or lowered by hooking the chain nearer to or farther l'rom the Coupler.

The coupler can be operated from the side or top ot' ear, and the position ot' the crank indicates whether the eoupler isin position llor eoupling or not.

My coupler is especially adapted to eouple and draw 011 a curve by having a free lateral movement.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I elaim as new, and desirev to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a car-coupling, a draw-head having engaging-hook, and bearing upon friction-roll4 ers in stirrups suspended by chains from the car-body, a ehain and (mank-lever l'or forcing the drawhead out of operation, and means for automatically locking it against tlieaction of its gravity, substantially as herein set forth,

2. The draw-head F, having hook II, as described, combined with the stirrups G, having friction-rollers g, the chains g, and the bar C, as set forth.

il. The suspended draw-heads F F, eaeh l'ormed with an upper and lower plate and a solid head, and having hook H, adapted to en! gage the solid head ofthe adjacent draw-head between the plates, whereby a vertical play is given to the coupling greater than the width ot the hook, as set forth.

l. In combination witl 1. the suspended drawhead, chain I, and crank-lever I, the pivotbraeliet J, placed distant from the l'ace of the ear, whereby the ehain I may be thrown past the pivot to leek the draw-head out of opera tion, as herein specified.

In testimony whereotl I aHix my signature in presenee oi' two witnesses.

W'ILL'IAM l-I`. (VASTLE. XV i t n esses: (l. S. DRURY,

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